Bentley 3-litre VDP Tourer
Registration NF 1870; Year 1927; Colour Black; Engine size 2,996 cc; Chassis No. TN1556; Engine No. TN1556

According to Bentley factory records, chassis number TN1556 was first registered on 13th January 1927 and was fitted with saloon bodywork by HJ Mulliner. The car is a Blue Label model with a 10ft 10ins wheelbase. The first owner was a Miss Alker of York and the car then passed through several owners (detailed in the buff log book in the history file) before being acquired by Dr Albert Houghton of Pulverbatch, Shropshire, in 1964. The current vendor bought it from him in 1977 at which point the car had 63,000 miles on the clock, a total which has now risen to just 74,000 some 30 years later.

In 1978 the car was stripped to its chassis and rebuilt using full scale templates taken from a Vanden Plas four-seat open tourer. The seasoned ash frame, made by cabinet maker Philip Turner of Cannock, was fitted with aluminium panels finished in layers of hessian, cotton wadding and a waterproof outer layer. Forward of the bulkhead the bodywork is all original.

The seats were retrimmed in red hide and remain beautifully soft and supple to this day. A new dashboard was custom made in mahogany and all the original instruments refitted along with a period 24-hour aircraft clock which was on the car when purchased. A new double duck hood and tonneau cover was also made and fitted.

Mechanically the car was found to be in very sound condition and little work has been required on the engine, which is the later big crank version. A Coaxal pre-engaged starter has been fitted but the original Smiths item is still with the car. The cam gear was rebuilt about ten years ago and the dynamo has also been rebuilt. A new uprated oil pump has been fitted along with an in-line oil filter. The car has also been fitted with a custom made exhaust in heavy gauge stainless steel.

The front pair of Andre Hartford friction shock absorbers have recently been renewed, as have both front brake drums, now finned for better cooling. Again, the originals are available. The rear axle has been fitted with a new crown wheel and pinion to raise the gearing for more relaxed cruising, though the originals have been retained. The king pins were totally rebuilt and are still said to be perfect with no detectable play.

Driving lamps are the original Lucas items and the car still has the original torpedo side lights on the front wings but modern indicators have been discreetly fitted front and rear for safety reasons. The car comes with a wealth of Bentley literature and a fair assortment of spares.

Great to drive and even better to look at, this is a fabulously maintained example of perhaps the most charismatic British sports car of all time. Bentleys from this era rarely come to market and have proved to be a gilt-edged investment. If you want to leave something to your grandchildren and have a huge amount of pleasure in the meantime, you could do a lot worse than buy into this. Magnificent.

[Sold on March 31, 2007]

At Le Mans, 1980